However, men are more likely to abuse drugs than women, single people are more likely than married individuals and urban dwellers more likely than rural dwellers. Prisoners, street children and younger individuals are also more likely to abuse drugs. You can also visit your primary care doctor for an evaluation. The type of treatment a doctor recommends depends on the severity and stage of the addiction.

An Overview of Substance Use

Behavioral addictions can occur with any activity that’s capable of stimulating your brain’s reward system. Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. There is no known older adults national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism niaaa cause of substance use disorder, but several risks have been identified. A person may be more likely to develop a substance use disorder if one of several factors are present. This article discusses the types and symptoms of substance use disorders, as well as how it’s diagnosed and treated.

Changes in Substance Abuse and Crime Rates Over Time

Thus, we’ve worked to create self-assessment tests that can aid in determining when to seek expert care and addiction treatment in Colorado. It can also be prescribed medications and legal drugs like alcohol or marijuana. A problematic pattern of drug use carries the potential of leading to drug abuse and even addiction. Identifying problematic behaviors can be difficult, but it is important to understand the reasons for using drugs in the first place. With treatment, many people manage addiction and live full, healthy lives. But recovering from substance use disorders and behavioral addictions isn’t easy.

Video: Why are Drugs So Hard to Quit?

Stimulants include amphetamines, meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis). They’re often used and misused alcohol use and cancer american cancer society in search of a “high,” or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control appetite. Despite the name, these are not bath products such as Epsom salts.

If you’re worried about your substance use and think you might be at risk for a substance use disorder, the best thing to do is to seek help and information, says O’Neill. “There are many counselors, coaches, and support group meetings that can help you understand and learn more about it. Treatment involves a professional assessment and treatment plan to meet the person’s individual needs for sustained recovery, says O’Neill. “The treatment plan can vary depending on several factors, such as severity of use and the person’s resources and sources of support.” Read ahead to learn more about the differences between substance use and substance abuse (the remainder of the article will use the term “substance use disorder” rather than “substance abuse”).

If Danny won the lottery, he’d start a tech company focusing on deep learning to support people in coping strategies. As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction.

She furthered her education by completing a master’s of science in clinical mental health counseling from Capella University. Additionally, Courtney obtained certificates in Alcohol and Drug Studies and is certified in Branspotting, a clinical treatment technique aiding individuals in processing trauma. Some states have also implemented harm reduction measures, such as supervised injection sites or needle exchange programs, for substances like heroin or other opioids. These practices have been shown to be highly effective in preventing disease but may conflict with federal drug laws, which maintain a more punitive approach. Different substances and behaviors have different effects on a person’s health. Serious complications can cause health concerns or social situations to result in the end of a life.

Being aware of these risks can help you take steps to avoid using substances in the first place. Seeking treatment for mental health older adults national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism niaaa conditions can also play a role in prevention. Substance use is a complex problem that is influenced by a number of factors.

Specializing in Compulsive Hoarding and Behavior Addictions, Brionna guides clients towards healthier relationships and boundaries. Additionally, she is trained in Brainspotting, offering a unique approach to trauma-informed care. The best plans are comprehensive, as addiction often affects many areas of life.

1. Another related phenomenon is tolerance, a gradual decrease in the effect of a certain dose as the drug is repeatedly taken; increasingly larger doses are needed to produce the desired effect.
2. After managing that program for six years, Danny moved to AspenRidge and now leads the clinical team.
3. Sharing or reusing needles for intravenous drug use also increases the risk of contracting and transmitting infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis.
4. Treatment programs should also check and assess for infectious diseases while providing risk-education counseling.
5. The type of treatment a doctor recommends depends on the severity and stage of the addiction.
6. In 2021, an estimated 46.3 million people needed substance use treatment, but only around 6% received any treatment.

For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions. Adolescents and adults are more likely to overdose on one or more drugs in order to harm themselves. Attempting to harm oneself may represent a suicide attempt. People who purposefully overdose on medications frequently have mental health conditions. These conditions may or may not have been diagnosed before. There’s no cure, but treatment can help you stop using drugs and stay drug-free.

When carefully examining drug use vs. drug abuse, the one distinguishing marker is often the frequency of use in combination with the level of desire or control. Drug use refers to the experimentation, low frequency, or irregular use of alcohol and drugs. On the other hand, drug abuse refers to regular or compulsive urges to use alcohol and drugs. Generally, drug abuse will alter lifestyles and influence psychological dependency on a substance. Understanding the problematic use of a substance has been a significant area of focus in the field of psychology and rehabilitation. Much of the research around problematic use of alcohol and other drugs examines the level of impact the substance may have on an individual’s life.

Of the people with a drug addiction, more than two-thirds also abuse alcohol. Trying a substance or using it occasionally is often the precursor to substance use disorder, particularly if someone is predisposed to it due to genetic, social, environmental, or individual factors. Therefore, it’s important to take steps to prevent substance use, particularly among young people, to help prevent substance use disorder. Professionals who are certified or licensed in addiction medicine can determine whether a person’s substance use is a cause for concern, and diagnose and treat substance use disorder, says O’Neill. Your primary doctor can provide a reference to a specialist, if needed.

If you think this may be true for you, you are certainly not alone. According to the latest statistics, 21.9% of Americans over the age of 12 have used illicit drugs in the past year, and 9.2 million people over the age of 12 have misused opioids. Drinking five or more drinks for men (four for women) in any one sitting is considered binge drinking, which can be harmful to your physical and mental health in many different ways. But recent research has shown that even marijuana may have more harmful physical, mental, and psychomotor effects than first believed. Research has found that marijuana can have serious short-term and long-term health risks.